A real-life nobleman who rebelled against King John and lived as an outlaw.
Several historical candidates have been proposed as the "seed" of the legend: Robin Hood : myth, history and culture
A fugitive from Yorkshire whose property was seized by the Sheriff. A real-life nobleman who rebelled against King John
Works like Sir Walter Scott's Ivanhoe and Howard Pyle's children's stories finalized the image of the selfless philanthropist we know today. The History: Searching for the "Real" Robin The History: Searching for the "Real" Robin Robin
Robin gained his iconic companions, Maid Marian and Friar Tuck , likely through festive May Day plays where he was crowned the "King of May".
A contemporary of Simon de Montfort who led a band of outlaws in Sherwood and was hunted by the Sheriff of Nottingham.
The "original" Robin Hood would be nearly unrecognizable today. In the earliest 15th-century ballads like Robin Hood and the Monk , he was a rough-edged "yeoman"—a commoner, not a lord—who was often violent and quick-tempered.